Our series of extracts from the Isle of Wight Historic Environment Recordincluded nearly 300 sites. They are archived here

Heritage Statements are raised as part of the planning process. They can sometimes involve comprehensive research and/or archaeological evaluation. Unfortunately they frequently only exist imbedded in online planning records. We have created links to a selection of statements here

Monthly News Item March 2015

FLOWERS BROOK ARCHAEOLOGY MAY BE REVISITED

Twenty years ago the Steephill Cove site began to produce a vast amount of complex and intriguing archaeology, with excavations spanning many years. The current outline planning application for onshore elements of the Perpetuus Tidal Energy project will call for excavations close to the original site.

Until the discoveries in the 1990s, the coastal area around Steephill Cove had been thought of as never being anything more than sparsely populated. By the end of the decade, the archaeology had created a different picture.
There were two main sets of excavations. The major archaeology project evolved around the startling discovery of a cemetery containing 41 burials, the exposing of which involved long and complex excavations. The burials were thought to date from the early medieval period. In addition, eleven re-deposited inhumations were uncovered and a medieval dry-stone wall associated with eleventh to twelfth century pottery.
Another set of excavations at Flowers Brook Recreation Ground found stratified deposits of a late Saxon and early medieval settlement. These were discovered on the more gently sloping northern part of the site. They included well preserved structural remains. Burials of uncertain date were also recovered, both in situ in graves and in unstratified deposits.
The general picture is of a sizeable community dating from late Saxon through early medieval. It is thought many of the structures associated with the community, including the church, could have been lost to coastal erosion. There is still some question over dates for the site but it would appear the community had probably ceased to exist by the end of the 13th century.
If the Perpetuus Tidal Energy planning application is successful, it will call for underground cabling of 500 metres in a trench 3-10 metres wide. The exact position of the cabling has yet to be established but it is almost certain to cross an area that holds the possibility of uncovering skeletal remains. The sensitive nature of such finds will probably call for an archaeological excavation of the route before any work can begin.

A treat for students of modern history. Download free film clips from the entire Pathe archive, dating from the 1920s. A search on 'wight' has over 170 hits. Read FAQ's before embarking on the download process

This page opens with details of IW shipwrecks. From here there are links to pages on various Island subjects including a comprehesive survey of Anglo-Saxon Wight plus reviews of piers, hovercraft and more. This site is worth a revisit as it continues to gain subjects

Important finds of metal detectorists are recorded in this national site. Click on images at top right, select county of origin in left hand box and enter 'wight' at right to raise pictures of local finds. More selective searches are available.

Hopefully the links on this page, or email contacts therein, can answer any specific question you may have on Island history. If all else fails email us at: iwhistory.centre@virgin.net Queries or comments welcome

The Isle of Wight History Centre was established in 1999. This page is updated on the 1st of the month